Islam offers best model for Corporate Social Responsibility:Dr Murtaza Mughal

Lahore: President of the Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) Dr. Murtaza Mughal said Islam offers best model for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) while the western model is imperfect.

Islam has very specific rules and guidelines concerning economic life; responsible CSR practices across the world are in many ways consistent with an Islamic view of society, he said.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said this while speaking as Chief Guest Speaker at a seminar titled “CSR and Islamic Teachings” held at the School of Management Sciences of the Quaid-e-Azam University.

Head of Management Sciences Department Dr. Ajmal Waheed, Coordinator Barkatullah, Supervisor Waseem Abbas Shaheen and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that Islam highly values attribute of social responsibility which is evident from introduction of zakat in the 7th century and stress on it in over 300 verses of Quran. He added that Fitra, Sadqa, charity and distribution of meat of sacrificial animals all help to make difference in someone’s life.

CSR does not mean just taking part in charitable activities, rather it means holding the responsibility to develop the society by envisioning future plans for socio-economic justice and welfare, he noted.

He said that Pakistani business community should do more to contribute for sustainable development through working with their employees, their families, local community and the society as the role of government in the economic and social development is shrinking.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ajmal Waheed said that random and unorganized giving without specified goals do help the society but not in a desirable way.  It is responsibility of the government and the private sector to create employment opportunities for the good of the society, Dr. Ajmal underlined.